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I think you may have got triggered on a few of the words, and may not actually disagree with Tech Solidarity. This is about tech workers organizing; realizing

I think you may have got triggered on a few of the words, and may not actually disagree with Tech Solidarity. This is about tech workers organizing; realizing that their power is greater when they are united, and having greater ability to challenge what comes down from the top. There are huge swathes of policy decisions made at technology companies where the engineering classes are likely to have different views to the executive class, like: - What is reasonable data to exfiltrate from a user’s device? - Can you open source this cool internal tool you’re working on? - Should the company prevent you from working on FOSS projects in your spare time, or try and get first-dibs on patents you dream up on the BART? If you want autonomy over your work-life, that means being able to speak frankly about the politics of work with your colleagues. Even if you or they feel uncomfortable occasionally.

xupybd 9y ago
Totally. Everything you’ve raised there seem like professional issues to me. I fully agree with unionising and working with other tech workers to address professional issues. Ethics and things related to work as a tech worker should be discussed and debated in the work place. But I’m not sure societal issues need be debated there. In your free time great, but not at the cost of your working relationships. Sorry not trying to not pick on terms, just trying to better communicate my intention.
- confounded 9y ago
  > But I’m not sure societal issues need be debated there. Then you'd better organize your workplace so you can tell your colleagues what they can and can't talk about, or believe is an important aspect of their work. The line between ethics in the technology industry, and societal issues is likely not as bright as you think. You may wish that there wasn't overlap, but that doesn't make it the case. Figuring these things out is difficult, but if we want technology to represent the intentions of technologists (not executives and venture capitalists) then it is incumbent upon us!
  - xupybd 9y ago
    >Then you'd better organize your workplace so you can tell your colleagues what they can and can't talk about, or believe is an important aspect of their work. To clarify I'm only talking about my personal strategy, everyone else can do as they see fit.
alexandercrohde 9y ago
Okay, but then they should stay 10 miles away from the word "progressive" (or any form thereof). That word now has unshakeable connotations that are incredibly divisive among tech workers.

xupybd 9y ago

Totally. Everything you’ve raised there seem like professional issues to me. I fully agree with unionising and working with other tech workers to address professional issues. Ethics and things related to work as a tech worker should be discussed and debated in the work place. But I’m not sure societal issues need be debated there. In your free time great, but not at the cost of your working relationships. Sorry not trying to not pick on terms, just trying to better communicate my intention.

confounded 9y ago
> But I’m not sure societal issues need be debated there. Then you'd better organize your workplace so you can tell your colleagues what they can and can't talk about, or believe is an important aspect of their work. The line between ethics in the technology industry, and societal issues is likely not as bright as you think. You may wish that there wasn't overlap, but that doesn't make it the case. Figuring these things out is difficult, but if we want technology to represent the intentions of technologists (not executives and venture capitalists) then it is incumbent upon us!
- xupybd 9y ago
  >Then you'd better organize your workplace so you can tell your colleagues what they can and can't talk about, or believe is an important aspect of their work. To clarify I'm only talking about my personal strategy, everyone else can do as they see fit.

alexandercrohde 9y ago

Okay, but then they should stay 10 miles away from the word "progressive" (or any form thereof). That word now has unshakeable connotations that are incredibly divisive among tech workers.